Page 2 - Environment Protection

Govt finalising Great Nicobar transhipment port's DPR, NGT scrutiny earlier

The detailed project report (DPR) of a Rs 41,000-crore international transhipment port project at Great Nicobar Island in the Bay of Bengal is being finalised by the government, and it will go ahead with the implementation of the project in the next few months, a senior official said on Sunday. Great Nicobar Transhipment port project has been under scrutiny over environmental concerns. "The project has received the environmental clearances and nod from National Green Tribunal (NGT) and now there is no hurdle in its implementation. "The DPR of the project is also finalised and we are going ahead for its further implementation in the next few months," Ports, Shipping and Waterways secretary T K Ramachandran told PTI in an interview. Last year, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in a statement had said the project is expected to be completed with an investment of Rs 41,000 crore (USD 5 billion), including investments from both government and public-private partnership (PPP)

Why is Paris 2024 Olympics set to be the greenest Olympics in history

Paris Olympics 2024 will largely depend on renewable energy sources, including geothermal and solar power; France has put in place several environmentally friendly initiatives

Ethiopia mudslides: Search for missing continues as death toll rises to 257

Search teams were still digging at the site of deadly mudslides in southern Ethiopia on Friday, as the death toll rose to 257, according to the UN humanitarian office. Heavy rain triggered deadly slides on Sunday and Monday in a remote part of the country. The UN humanitarian office, known as OCHA, said in an update Thursday that the death toll could rise to as many as 500, citing local officials. More than 15,000 affected people need to be evacuated" from the area, it said. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is expected to visit the remote area on Friday. Mudslides there have been triggered by heavy rainfall in recent days. Abiy said earlier in the week that he was deeply saddened by this terrible loss. Photos from the scene show residents standing over the shrouded bodies of mudslide victims who are being pulled, one by one, from the muddy earth. Diggers have been using hand shovels to pick through the mud. Many people were buried in the Gofa Zone of Kencho Shacha Gozdi distric

280% surge in projects in wildlife sanctuaries, national parks in 2023-24

India saw a massive 280 per cent increase in the number of projects recommended in wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in 2023-24 as compared to 2022-23, according to the data presented in Parliament on Monday. Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh also informed the Lok Sabha that a total of 957.25 square kilometers or 95,724.99 hectares of forest area has been diverted for non-forestry use under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 over five years starting from April 2019. The minister said that 71 project proposals were approved in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries across the country in 2019-20. The numbers stood at 85 in 2020-21, 154 in 2021-22, 150 in 2022-23, and surged to 421 in 2023-24. Singh also shared that 8,731 requests for forest land diversion were approved between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2023, amounting to a total of 95,724.99 hectares of forest area being set aside for non-forestry use. Madhya Pradesh saw the highe

Rich nations failed to meet $100 bn climate finance promise in 2022: Oxfam

Rich countries falsely claimed that they provided nearly USD 116 billion in climate finance to developing countries in 2022, while the actual financial support given was not more than USD 35 billion, according to global non-profit organization Oxfam International. At the 2009 UN climate conference in Copenhagen, rich nations pledged to provide USD 100 billion annually from 2020 to help developing countries mitigate and adapt to climate change. However, delays in achieving this goal have eroded trust between developed and developing nations and have been a continual source of contention during annual climate negotiations. In May, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said that developed countries had met the long-standing USD 100-billion-a-year promise by providing nearly USD 116 billion in climate finance to developing countries in 2022. However, nearly 70 per cent of this money was in the form of loans, many of which were provided at profitable market ..

Odisha gets nod to clear 1,524.17 ha of forest land for irrigation project

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has approved the diversion of 1,524.17 hectare of forest land for the construction of an irrigation project in Odisha's Nayagarh district, officials said on Tuesday. In a statement, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said the state government has been waiting for the approval from the Centre for the last 30 years. After the completion of the Brutanga project, irrigation facilities can be provided to 23,000 hectares of land, it said. "On the basis of the compliance report furnished by the state government... final approval of central government under Section 2 of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 is hereby granted for non-forestry use of 1524.17 hectares of forest land for construction of Brutanga irrigation project," read a letter issued by Assistant Inspector General of Forests Dheeraj Mittal on Monday. As per the conditions set by the MoEF for the approval, the legal status of the diverted forest land shall remain .

Prez Murmu urges people to take smaller, local steps to protect environment

Highlighting the recent spate of terrible heatwaves in India and frequent extreme weather events around the globe, President Droupadi Murmu asked people on Monday to take smaller and local steps to protect the environment for a better tomorrow. In a note on the social media platform 'X' after visiting the seashore in this temple town, Murmu said oceans and the rich variety of flora and fauna have suffered heavily due to pollution but people living in nature's lap have sustained traditions "that can show us the way". "Inhabitants of coastal areas, for example, know the language of the winds and waves of the sea. Following our ancestors, they worship the sea as God," she said, while suggesting ways to protect and conserve the environment. The President arrived in Odisha on a four-day tour on July 6. "There are places that bring us in closer touch with the essence of life and remind us that we are part of nature. Mountains, forests, rivers and seashores appeal to something deep within

Delhi Govt to grow the city's green cover with plantation drive on July 11

Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday said that two crore saplings were planted in the city in the last four years, against a target of five years set by the government. The tree plantation drive will be expanded with planting of 64 lakh more saplings of various species in the next one year, Rai said during a press conference here. The minister said the Delhi government and its various agencies will kick-start the initiative, which commences with the onset of the monsoon, from Narela on July 11. He emphasised the importance of residents' cooperation in supporting the Delhi government's efforts to increase the city's green cover and said that as part of this campaign, seven lakh saplings will be distributed among citizens free of cost. The first phase of the tree plantation campaign will cover 30 assembly constituencies and will run until August 9, Rai said. During this period, awareness will be raised among the public and free saplings will be distributed, he added. Rai

Cheetah trackers in Kuno refuse to kill goats over religious beliefs

MP's Kuno National Park, home to 26 Cheetahs, employed around 30 villagers of Sheopur as trackers to monitor the big cats

World Environment Day 2024: Date, Theme, History, Importance, Quotes

World Environment Day is celebrated annually on June 5 to pause, reflect, and take action to protect our amazing planet. 2024 will mark the 30th anniversary as per the UN Convention

As fix for global warming, US scientists try 'sun blocking' to cool Earth

The scientists tested a technique that involves reflecting sunlight back into space in order to cool the Earth

Over half of GCCs in India 'actively' adopting ESG agenda: Report

70% 'actively looking' for technology collaborations to implement ESG norms, says EY

EU must prepare for 'catastrophic' climate change risks: Environment agency

Policymakers need to draw up new plans to address the challenges, the Copenhagen-based body said in its first Europe-wide analysis of climate-related risks

World Wetlands Day 2024: Theme, history, importance, and contribution

World Wetlands Day is a global day devoted to promoting the conservation and sustainable management of wetlands. Wetlands are areas covered by water, either forever or occasionally

Union Cabinet approves Rs 4,797 crore for 'Prithvi Vigyan' scheme

The government on Friday approved "Prithvi Vigyan", an overarching initiative comprising five on-going sub-schemes related to earth sciences, at a cost of Rs 4,797 crore over a five-year period from 2021-26. The Union Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) to club the sub-schemes. The schemes are "Atmosphere and Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems and Services", "Ocean Services, Modelling Application, Resources and Technology", "Polar Science and Cryosphere Research", "Seismology and Geosciences" and "Research, Education, Training and Outreach". "The overarching scheme of 'Prithvi Vigyan' (PRITHVI) will enable development of integrated multi-disciplinary earth science research and innovative programmes across different MoES institutes," an official statement said. It said these integrated research and development efforts will help in addressing the grand challenges of weather and climat

Restrict missile testing during turtles' nesting season, Odisha urges DRDO

The state government urged the DRDO to restrict missile testing off the Odisha coast in February and March -- the mass nesting season of the endangered olive ridley sea turtles, an official said on Saturday. The Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) has two major missile testing ranges in the state -- Chandipur in Balasore district and the APJ Abdul Kalam Island, formerly Wheeler Island, in Bhadrak district, he said. "It is an annual practice to request the DRDO to restrict testings during this time as these locations are close to the famed Gahirmath sanctuary, which is considered the cradle of olive ridley turtles," the senior official of the state Forest Department said. The DRDO adheres to the state's request every year, he said. At a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary PK Jena on Dember 7, it was also decided to request the DRDO to appoint a nodal officer who will coordinate with the Fisheries Department for protecting the turtles. Lakhs of olive ridley turtles visit

COP28 : Petroleum ministry warns against curbs on hydrocarbon investments

India has until now strongly advocated for a phase-down of all fossil fuels, including oil and gas

Finmin questions rationale for extending FAME scheme beyond current fiscal

The Heavy Industries Ministry proposed an extension to subsidies for EVs under FAME III with a higher allocation for five more years to support the growth of electric and alternate fuel vehicles

Strict action against construction cos violating anti-dust norms: Gopal Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday directed officials to take strict action against construction agencies found violating anti-dust norms at Sarai Kale Khan here. As part of the Delhi government's anti-dust campaign, Rai inspected several construction sites in the area and found they did not have a working anti-smog gun, water sprinklers and tin sheds to prevent dust pollution. The minister directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to issue notice to the project proponents concerned. He said a penalty will be imposed on the violators if they fail to submit a satisfactory reply within 24 hours. Rai Saturday launched a month-long drive to prevent dust pollution in the capital and said strict action will be taken against anyone found violating relevant norms. The Centre's air quality panel on Friday directed authorities in the National Capital Region to enforce a ban on coal usage in hotels and restaurants, and to take punitive measures against polluting industries an

Jharia Master Plan brings down surface fires sites from 77 to 27

The total count of fire sites decreased from 77 to 67 by 2009 and further dropped to 27 by 2021